What Is "Wastewater Pretreatment"?

Definition of wastewater pretreatment and what it encompasses.

The term "pretreatment" means the treatment of wastewater by commercial and industrial facilities to remove harmful pollutants before being discharged to a sewer system under the control of a publicly owned treatment works (POTWs). "Pretreatment" is also defined in Title 40 Code of Federal Regulations (40 CFR) Subsection 403.

Objectives of the Pretreatment Program

prevent interference with the operation of your wastewater treatment plant

prevent the introduction of pollutants that could pass through your wastewater treatment plant untreated and into the receiving body of water

improve opportunities for reuse or recycling of wastewater and sewage sludge

prevent the introduction of pollutants that could cause health or safety problems to the public or the environment

Meeting These Objectives: The Pretreatment Program

The Pretreatment Program is part of the Texas Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (TPDES) program to control the pollutants discharged into sewer systems and to reduce the amount of pollutants released into the environment.

Wastewater from homes, commercial buildings, and industrial facilities is collected and transported through a series of pipes—that is, a collection system—to wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs). These WWTPs remove harmful organisms and contaminants from the wastewater before discharge into the receiving creek, river, or lake.

Most POTWs are designed to treat sanitary (domestic) wastes from households, but not to treat toxic pollutants from industrial or commercial facilities. The toxic pollutants from industrial and commercial facilities may cause serious problems at POTWs. These problems may be prevented by recycling, waste minimization, chemical substitution, pretreatment, or other best management practices to reduce or eliminate the pollutants from commercial or industrial facilities.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) developed the General Pretreatment Regulations under 40 CFR Part 403 to set responsibilities for federal, state, and local government, industry, and the public to achieve the National Pretreatment Program objectives. The EPA describes this national program in its "Introduction to the National Pretreatment Program".